1. Cultural Ethos Images Compiled by James Bretzke, SJ
N.B. This is a work in progress, so revisit the file periodically for new images

2. What is a “Cultural Ethos”?
An “Ethos” refers to a culturally embedded set of values, which are both positive and negative
A cultural ethos involves a number of Fundamental Values and Root Paradigms
Fundamental Values are so deeply embedded in a culture that most members enculturated (socialized) into that culture take these values as a “given” and is self- evidently true.
“It’s not fair” is a good example of an American Fundamental Value
Fundamental values are then arranged and socially instantiated in Root Paradigms that in some way or another express these values. “One person, one vote” expresses a Root Paradigm grounded in the Fundamental Value of egalitarianism.

3. American “Fundamental Value” Ethical Principle

4. Superman: An American Hero

5. American Nostalgia: The Way It (never) Was?

6. Libertarian Cultural Critique

7. Competing American Ethoses

8. New Yorker Map of the United States

9. New Englander View of the World

10. Michigan View of the World

11. Norman Rockwell Updated

12. Privacy & Private Property as Core Fundamental Values

13. Cultural Vices in Root Paradigms

14. Political Correctness/Uncorrectness?

15. Reflecting on “Your” Cultural Ethos
Remember that a cultural ethos is larger than any/every individual in a given culture.
A cultural ethos has both positive and negative aspects, practices, values, etc.
Cultural ethos is probably best accessed and analyzed in terms of what Geertz calls a “thick description” and needs to be decoded.
A cultural ethos is often carried by a narrative that has characteristics of a “cover story” which is largely unconscious and thus can be deceptive to the insiders of a culture.
A cultural ethos is quite distinct from an individual’s own personal values, though every individual reacts in ways both conscious and sub-conscious to the particular cultural ethos
Often a good way to uncover the hidden aspects of a cultural ethos is through cross-cultural experiences, including long-term travel, debates, tensions, etc. from members of different cultures.